Pakistan Administrative Service

Almost all of the country's highest-profile positions such as the Federal Secretaries, the provincial Chief Secretaries, and chairmen of top-heavy organizations like the National Highway Authority, Trading Corporation of Pakistan and State Life Insurance Corporation usually belong to the Pakistan Administrative Service.

[3][4] Officers in this occupational group are recruited through a national competitive examination held once a year by the Federal Public Service Commission.

Those selected for this group have to undergo a two-year training programme at the Civil Services Academy (CSA) in Lahore.

[8] This quota was introduced by President General Zia ul Haq through an infamous amendment to the law primarily to have domination of military over civil bureaucracy and is still in vogue.

[10] However, in 2008, after the presidency of General Musharraf, provincial governments of Pakistan again established the office of Divisional Commissioner.